Glenn Gould Plays Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Books I & II

"A benchmark of sorts … dynamically thrilling…. Hans von Bülow (1830-94), the great German pianist and conductor who led the premiere of Tristan und Isolde and was one of the first pianists to give marathon concerts of the complete 32 piano sonatas of Beethoven, referring to them as the 'New Testament of Music,' once dubbed the Well-Tempered Clavier the 'Old Testament of Music.' Bach's magnum opus is certainly one of the cornerstones of Western musical literature, one that has influenced every composer from Chopin and Liszt to Busoni and Shostakovich. It is in all respects one of the most formidable musical works with which keyboardists must eventually come to terms. Its challenges are twofold: the diversity that exists within its 48 preludes and fugues makes it difficult to capture all of the separate characters that are presented in each of its individual movements, while its repetitive structure of alternating preludes and fugues often gives it a sameness of sound and texture, especially when performed as a whole."—Fanfare

The playing of Canadian virtuoso Glenn Gould provokes myriad reactions, from disquiet to awe. Seldom is there indifference. He is celebrated for his revelatory Bach interpretations, yet he cherished the music of the Renaissance, was stupendous in recordings of Beethoven concertos, and championed music of the 20th century. These well-annotated new editions combine his recorded legacy in exciting ways and add to the luster of a reputation that continues to shine, many years after his death.